Shoe.



Patented lune l2, I900.

A. OSBURN.

S H 0 E (Application filed Dec. 6, 1899.)

(No Model.)

7 fiwewr Mew Osborn,

wz nesses:

M ywz/ 290 6. OWZW THE NORRIS PETERS '30., PHOTO-LITHD.. WASHINGTON, D. C.

NITED STATES FATE FFiC.

"SHOE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent 1\l'ou 651,555, dated June 12, 1900. Application filed December 6,1899. Serial No. 739,345. (No model] T at whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, ANDREW OSBORN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bridgewater, county of Plymouth, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Shoes, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings,

' is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

My invention is an improved shoe, having for its object the provision of a relatively-inexpensive shoe which is protected and supported at the arch of the foot, being specially advantageous for skating and bicycle shoes and the like.

v In carrying out my invention I provide opposite shank-supporting pieces secured externally of the vamp and stitched thereto and preferably forming a part of the welt in the case of welt-shoes.

The details of construction of my invention and further advantages thereof will be more particularly pointed out in the following description, reference being bad to the accompanying, drawings illustrative of a preferred embodiment of my invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of a shoe embodying my invention, parts being broken away to show the details of construction thereof. Fig. 2 is a broken view, in side elevation, showing a portion of a shoe provided with my improvement. Fig. 3 is a central transverse vertical section on the line 3 3, Figs. 1 and 2.

It will be understood that my invention is not limited to any particular style or kind of shoe, being herein shown as applied to an ordinary welt-shoe having an outer sole a, vamp a, heela inner sole a, and suitable filling a As herein shown and as preferably made,

my invention is applied to a hand-sewed shoe, although it may be used in any machine-made shoe, if desired.

At the opposite sides of the shank a of the sole I secure, as indicated, stiffening-pieces a a preferably of considerably-stiffer leather than that of the vamp a, this leather being preferably of the same character as the outer sole a, although thinner, and shaped to the contour of the foot, so as to perform the double function of protecting the vamp and stiffening or supporting the shank of the foot.

These pieces a a are stitched to the outside of the vamp, as indicated at a, preferably by stitches passing through and through the vamp a and lining a and being properly secured at their lower innermost edges to the shoe, being herein shown as secured by stitches a to the vamp or upper a and thereafter by stitches a to the outer sole in the manner usual in welt-shoes. The usual Welt a of the shoe terminates adjacent the stiffening-pieces a a and preferably overlaps the latter slightly, as indicated at a, the stiffening pieces cooperating therewith in forming a neat, light, and graceful shank at the solo. The opposite end of the stiffeningpieces extends, preferably, somewhat under the heel portion of the shoe, as indicated at a, thereby giving a strong support and also cooperating with the parts already described in providing the shoe with a water-tight arch, this being the part of the shoe which is ordinarily the most apt to admit water to the foot. The stilfening-pieces are gracefully curved at their upper edges and project sufficiently high along the vamp to give all the supporting and stiffening advantage required, together with proper protection of the vamp against cutting and abrasion, such as commonly occurs, especially in bicycle-riding,

skating, golf-playing, &c.

In riding the bicycle the foot is liable to slip on the pedal, thereby abrading and sometimes cutting into the thin leather of the vamp at the arch of the shoe, this being particularly true of light shoes, such as kids, and other tender-grained shoes, such as those sometimes worn by ladies. The same is also true of walking across fieldsin playing games, inasmuch as stubble, briers, fiinty stones, &c., are very liable to cut into and injure the overhanging arch portion ofthe vamp.

My protectors a a effectually prevent the injury spoken of, while at the same time giving material support to the foot and to the shoe, so as to maintain the latter in the. proper graceful lines desired. My improvements also keep the ankle from turning, and thereby tend to prevent the heel from running over.

While I have shown my invention embodied in a preferred form and having a particular cut desired, I wish it understood that I am not limited in all particulars thereto,

inasmuch as many modifications may be re sorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

I am aware that it is not new to provide simply a stiffening device at the shank of a shoe, such devices, however, so far as I am aware, having servedthis purpose'solelyand having been either entirely distinct from the shoe, being properly surgical appliances, or when provided in connection with a shoe they have been on the inside of the shoe next to the foot.

It will be understood that I have used the shoe in this specification and in the claims in the generic sense, including any kind of foot-gear, whether boot or shoe.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A shoe comprising a vamp, a welt, and an outer sole, the welt terminating adjacent the forward part of the shank of the shoe,

and an external piece of heavy, stiif, non pliable material extending from adjacent the end of said welt to the heel, and being secured to the outside of the vamp and between the vamp and outer sole, substantially as described.

2. A shoe having opposite combined stifleners and protectors secured at the shank of the shoe and extending externally of the Vamp so as to cover and protect the latter in the region of the shank part thereof, and extending under the heel at their rear ends and between the sole and vamp and stitched to the vamp, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ANDREW OSBORN \Vitncsses GEO. II. MAXWELL, GEO. W. GREGORY. 

